Heart of Africa

Africa always inspired me. Sometimes it seems to me, that Africa was my past and sometimes that it is my future…

The inexplicable understanding of the African culture which I feel through all my conscious life, grows from my love to Africa. When I hear the true African music, my heart always jumps up or cries in unison. Maybe it is just because I have African heart…

Portrait of the African person with calabash

The person which is represented on the portrait, – is a Moran whose activities consist of defence and attacks. In free time Morans mostly are busy with they own beauty, in particular hairdressing; and also drink from calabash the milk mixed with blood which is received from pierced veins of a living animal.

Blunt arrow is the weapon of the moran in search of love

Moran means a warrior. At Masai tribe, all men from 15 till 35 years are Morans. They live in special settlement – Manyate. They must not marry, but it is possible to have girlfriends who usually become their wives after reaching 35-years of age and the status of an elder.

Having chosen himself a girlfriend, Moran with a bow and arrow, with a tip wrapped up by a soft leather, hides in the bush near a track leading to a river. Sitting in an ambush, he waits the girl, whose breast has made him crazy during dance. The girl, pretending that there is nothing to suspect, goes to fill the calabash with water. The young man shoots the arrow to her, and leaves the ambush to show himself as good as he is. If the girl passes by, “not noticing” neither the warrior, nor the arrow, that means the Moran has failed; but otherwise, if the girl pickes up the arrow and brings it to the Moran, then she has agreed to become his girlfriend. Then they together would go to mother of the girl and ask how much meat or other food the Moran will daily bring to the family while the girl is living with him. Mother could not change the decision of the daughter but she could frighten off the Moran by asking too large reimbursement.

This custom obviously reminds me of a fairy tale about “Tsarevna-frog” and some other Russian and not only Russian fairy tales.

Masai women can make beautiful things

Women from the tribe Masai are more engaged in applied art, than homework; so they make very beautiful ornaments, painted pottery, calabashes, beadwork and mats. All products of the Massai women are outstanding in harmony and feeling of color.

Wedding ceremony of the Igbos

This painting depicts the wedding ceremony of the Igbos, one of the tribes of Nigeria and Benin. While the relatives and guests are drinking and eating, the groom and the bride, accompanied by mother of the groom and the shaman, are going to the crossroads where they bury simple sacrifice: kola nuts, cowrie shells and yam tubers. Then palm wine and blood of the chicken are sprinkled on the place of sacrifice. The shaman dances around with songs and spells, blessing the new family. In the past, when shamans were more fair, they used to bury the chicken too; but in our spoiled century, the chicken and wine are now taken by the shaman

Badu-kidogo

In Swahili language, “Badu – kidogo” means “little bit later”. This expression is widespread in East Africa, and there is no wonder as between 10 am and 6 pm the mercury column goes up to temperature of +40 Celcius or more. So this small African family waits for midday heat pass away under a shadow of the Acacia umbrella. At background you could see Kilimanjaro; the family moves to the east…

We live in one World

This work one more time express my attitude to the native population of Africa. Some could think that I am idealizing people I never seen with my eyes. I do not idealize Africa and its native people. I simply consider that every person has the right on evolution and freedom. We live on same earth and have same dreams; therefore who has the right to put us on different levels?